Switching to a 3-4 defense will give the Vikings flexibility in the NFL Draft
By Luke Parrish
Could the Vikings take a pass rusher in Round 1?
There are some rumors making noise this week that Kayvon Thibodeaux could slide out of the top 10 in the draft. Once the top prospect in the class, Thibodeaux has suffered quite the slide in recent months but he is still the star player that everyone fell in love with over a year ago.
If he does indeed fall out of the top 10 and is available for the Vikings with the 12th overall pick, Minnesota should sprint the card in. Not only is Thibodeaux a top-tier player in this class, but he also fills a position of need for the Vikings that extends beyond just this season.
The signing of Za’Darius Smith gives the Vikings two dominant rushers off the edge but his contract indicates that Smith might only stick around for a season or two. The Vikings could let Thibodeaux sit behind one of the league’s best tandems and ease him into a starting role in Year 2 while shuffling him into the mix as a rookie.
Adding a player like Thibodeaux would also open things up for the defensive line. He can line up as a linebacker off the edge while Hunter or Smith use their size to line up on the line and present three deadly pass rushers in certain situations.
Sending a group of Hunter, Smith, Thibodeaux, and Harrison Phillips at the quarterback on third downs would make life a helluva lot easier on the secondary, which has question marks of its own.
Even if Thibodeaux is off the board, Minnesota could target edge rushers such as Travon Walker, George Karlaftis, and Jermaine Johnson to create a similar headache for opposing offenses. I would not rule out a pass rusher in the first round in 2022, especially if the Vikings want to focus on the future as a whole.
Aside from rushing the quarterback, the 3-4 defense creates a much different look for the Vikings and it could significantly alter their draft strategy in Year 1 under the new regime.